Flash light



Jufly w, 1935. M. L. BEAUMONT 2,009,952

FLASH LIGHT Filed Nov. 22, 1933 INVENTCVR ATTORNEY 1? an}? L. Beau/m? Patented July 30,

UNITED STATES 2,009,952 FLASH LIGHT Marie L. Beaumont, Brooklyn,

N. Y.,assignor, by I mesne assignments, to' William Custer Hammend, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Appl icatibn November 22, 1933, Serial No. 699,140

Claims. (Cl. 22.40-10.66) The present invention relates to flashlights,

particularly of the portable type.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a flashlight of novel and improved construction, wherein the lamp is controlled by relfative movement of its electric cell with respect to any other component; of the device.

Another object is to provide a novel flashlight of the character described, wherein the circuit actuating the lamp switching means.

A further object of this invention is to prois controlled by an improved videan improved flashlight having a novel ar-- the casing Ill, in such position'that when the rangement of its constituent parts.

Another object is to provide an improved flashlight of the nature set forth, which is controllable in the novel manner aforesaid and adapted to employ electric cells of the inactive type.

A further important object of my present invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, efficient in operation and easy to use. I

With these objects in view and others which will be suggested and become manifest as the purposes and nature of my invention arefully disclosed and revealed in the following specification and bodiments thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal, partial central section through a flashlight embodying my present invention, wherein the lamp is'mounted intermediate the electric cells.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form thereof, where the lamp is mounted at an endof the device. 7

Fig. 3 is a view showing an embodiment similar to that of Fig. l, employing however, a pair of cells of the type which are inactive until first made active.

Fig. 4 is a section taken at line 44 in Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral I I) designates in Fig. 1 a sleeve or tubular casing, within which, in axial alignment, fit the spaced cylindrical electric cells !I and I2, with the projecting ends of their respective carbon electrodes I 3 and I4, facing each other in the chamber I5 formed within the casing ID; the cell I2, having the portion thereof which projects out of the casing, covered with a tubular element I6, and said cell I2 is movable with respect to the casing I0.

'I2. The casing) is drawing, I have shown several em' Within the chamber I5, to the zinc container electrode of oneyand to the carbon stick electrode' of the other of the cells I-I andlZ, are respectively secured the spaced metal members, I? and I8, through theformer of which is mount-' 5 ed the base of a lamp I 9. The member I8 ter- Ininates in a button component 20,"which is adapted to come in and goout of contact with the central terminal 2I, of the lamp I 9, upon movement of 'the cell I2. v I 10 A ring element 22,- having its inner diameter large en'oughj'to permit only limited movement of the button 26 which lies therein," is secured to button 26 andthering 22 are concentric, con-'15 tact is established between the button and the terminal 2! of the lamp I9. A metal strip 23, is secured to the carbon electrode I3 of cell *II, and extendsalong the surface of the chamber I5 and far enough beyond, 'to maintain brush'zo contact with the zinc container electrode of cell provided with an opening 'to the chamber I5, concentric With the lamp I9; a reflector member 24, being mounted about the base of said lampfand extending upward, termi-25 nates at the periphery of said opening.

To operate theldevice, it is held casing III in one hand, while with the other hand on element i the cell I2 iseither turned a little within'the casing I0, or else slid out a little therefrom, whereby the lamp I9 will be either lit'or become extinguished depending upon whether the circuit isopened or closed by the contact or separation of the button 20, and the lamp terminal 2I.. The ring22 limitingthe scope of motion of the .button 20, will thereby prevent the cell I2 from becomingidisassociated from the casing I0, and

will further limit its sliding and turning motion within same, In the Fig. 3, which is similar to the Fig. 1, with 40 slight modifications necessitated by the use of inactive type cells II' and I2, the ring member 22 is shown secured eccentrically with respect to the button 20, whereby the cell I2,.is permitted bhly a rotary motion of short range with respect to the casing I0.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, I have included inactive cells of the type invented by Eugene P. Beaumont, set forth and fully disclosed in his application for patent bearing Serial No. 652,270, filed January 18, 1933. In such identical cells II and I2, there is in each, a cylindrical zinc can electrode 25, closed by a seal 26, which has a central aperture therein. Within this-can .25, in spaced relation therewith and also 7 cell, to bring spaced from said seal 26, is mounted a carbon electrode 21, which has secured thereabout a cylindrical depolarizing mass 28. A washer 29, having several radially extending lugs 30, is secured about the carbon electrode 21, atop the depolarizing mass 28; said lugs 30, being bent toward the seal 26, so that the washer 29 becomes wedged within the zinc container 25, serving thereby to concentrically mount the carbon 21 with the mass 28 thereabout within said can. Another washer, numbered 3I, sets atop the lugs 30, in contact with the seal 26, and has an internally threaded integral nipple 32, passing through the aperture in said seal. A carbon plug 33, terminating at one end in a metal cap 34, is threadedly engaged in said nipple 32, and the uncapped end of said plug 33 is in contact, within the cell container 25, with the end of the carbon electrode 21; said plug being adapted to be removed temporarily for the admission of an electrolyte within the same into active condition.

By arranging the cells I28 andI I so that said removable plugs 33 are accessible at the ends of the device, the activating of said cells is accomplished with ease and is made a simpler matter, since neither of the cells need be removed, to have electrolyte introduced into their interiors whereby they are put into their active state.

It is to be noted, that the construction shown in the Fig. 3, the metal strip members I8 and 23, are each insulated from the zinc containers of the cells II and I2, and at their ends, where eye terminals 35 are provided, are respectively in electrical connection with the plugs 33, which pass through said eyed ends, to secure same to the carbon electrodes 21 electrically. It is evident that the manner of operating this flashlight is identical to that set forth for Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2, the numeral I0 designates a sleeve or tubular casing within which fit the spaced cells II and I2, forming a chamber I5 therebetween; the projecting ends of their respective carbon electrodes I3 and I4, pointing in the same direction. The portion of the cell II which projects out of the casing I0, is covered with a tubular element IS. The cell I2, is placed within the casing III, to be intermediate the ends thereof. The cell I I, is turnable within the tubular member III, to make and break the contact between the angular metal elements 36, secured within the chamber I5, one to the carbon terminal I3, and the other to the bottom of the zinc container electrode of the cell I2, which elements 36, when in contact, connect the cells in series, whereby the circuit controlling the lamp I9 becomes closed. But when the cell II is turned so that said elements 36 are in a position to be out of contact, then the lamp circuit is open.

Through a U? member 31, the ends of the arms of which are imbedded in the seal of the cell I2, is mounted the base of a lamp I9, so that the central terminal 2|, of said lamp be in contact with the carbon electrode terminal I4 of the cell I2;

said member 31, having secured thereto a connector element 38, which is insulated throughout except to make brush contact with the zinc container electrode of cell I I, which it connects electrically with said member 31. A reflector 24 is mounted about the lamp I9, and extends to the open end of the tube I6, where it is secured by a ferrule 39. From explanations and descriptions hereinabove set forth, the manner of operating this embodiment is fully evident.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive, and that the patent shall cover Whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the specific descriptions herein to indicate the scope of the invention.

1. In combination with a lamp, a casing, an electric cell fixed within the casing, a second electric cell partially within the casing and in movable relation with the first cell, and means including the external portion of the second cell to move said cell into series circuit with the first cell and the lamp.

2. In combination with a lamp, a casing, an electric cell fixed within the casing, a second electric cell partially within the casing and in slidable relation with the first cell, and means including the external portion of the second cell to move said cell into series circuit with the first cell and the lamp.

3. In combination with a lamp, a casing, an electric cell fixed within the casing, a second electric cell within the casing and capable of being rotated therein about its longitudinal axis, and means whereby the lamp is actuated upon turning the second electric cell.

4. In combination with a lamp, a casing, an electric cell fixed within the casing, a second electric cell partially within the casing and turnable about its longitudinal axis, and means including the external portion of the second cell to move said cell into series circuit with the first cell and the lamp.

5. In a flashlight of the type described, the combination of a casing, a battery comprising a pair of cells, mounted spaced within the casing and one of them in moveable relation therewith, a pair of conductive elements positioned Within the casing between the cells, secured in spaced relation, one to a terminal of each of the cells, and a lamp having its base mounted in one of said elements and its central terminal in contact with the other. of said elements; said contact becoming broken on motion of the movable cell, whereby the lamp is extinguished.

MARIE L. BEAUMONT. 

